A film by Massoud Bakhshi, Drama, 89min, Colour,
FR/GER/CH/LUX/LBN/IRN 2019
© JBA Production / NiKo Film / Close Up Films / Amour Fou Luxembourg / Shortcut Films / Tita B Productions / Ali Mosaffa Productions / ZDF / Arte / RTS
funded by: Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg, FFA Minitraité, CNC, Film Fund Luxembourg, Breizh Fillm Fund, Torino Film Lab, nordmedia, Eurimages, OFC, Rehion Bretagne, Sundance, Bon Gah, Angoa, German FilmsWorld Sales: Pyramide International
German Distribution: Little Dream Entertainment
Synopsis
Maryam Sadeghi, 26 years old, is married to her father’s former boss who is 36 years her senior. Pregnant and refusing to get an abortion, Maryam accidentally kills him and is sentenced to capital punishment. She has to confront his daughter, Mona Zia, through a popular reality TV show where the accused asks for pardon in front of millions of viewers. As the show progresses, Maryam will soon uncover the truth and the terrible compromises made by her own family.
Cast
Sadaf Asgari, Behnaz Jafari, Babak Karimi
Crew
Producers | Marianne Dumoulin, Jacques Bidou |
Co-Producers | Nicole Gerhards, Joelle Bertossa, Bady Minck & Alexander Dumreicher-Ivanceanu |
Director | Massoud Bakhshi |
Script | Massoud Bakhshi |
Production Manager | Kambiz Safari |
DoP | Julian Atanassov |
Editor | Jacques Comets |
Original Sound | Dana Farzanehpour |
Production Design | Mahmoud Bakhshi |
Costume Design | Leila Naghdi Pari |
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Festivals and Awards
36th Sundance Film Festival 2020, World Cinema Dramatic Competition - Winner of the Grand Jury Prize
70th International Film Festival Berlin 2020, Generation 14plus Competition
18th FIFDH International Film festival and Forum on Human Rights 2020
11th Luxembourg City Film Festival
24th Sofia International Film Festival - Special Mention for Best Screenplay
54th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival 2020
Press
"There is really much to enjoy in this paradoxical but grippingly paced film. Young Asgari ist beautifully castin the main role [...]. Julian Atanassov, the cinematographer, opts for elegant opulence in muted colors as the camera nervously follows characters around the studio and backstage offices. Jacques Comets' editing is precise and always fluid."
THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
"A fascinating duel for control with many emotional outbursts, the film also gives the director opportunities to intelligently address the mechanisms of TV spectacle with a very cinematic eye supported by the beautiful cinematography of Bulgarian DoP Julian Atanassov."
CINEUROPA